A 13-year-old girl who was reported missing following an online meeting with a man has been located alive, hidden in a box within his residence, where signs of sexual assault were discovered, as stated by authorities.
Ki-Shawn Crumity, aged 26, was apprehended in Pittsburgh, US, on Thursday and now faces charges that include human trafficking, sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, and corruption of a child. The teenager, a resident of Baker, Louisiana, disappeared on October 20 after establishing contact with Crumity via social media.
The arrest of Crumity is part of a broader investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies spanning state borders, as reported by The Guardian. Louisiana’s attorney general, Liz Murrill, emphasized the dangers of social media and human trafficking, pointing out that the girl was groomed, exploited, and sexually abused by strangers she encountered online.
Following information provided by federal agents, law enforcement officials discovered the girl confined in a box covered with sheets in Crumity’s basement, more than 1,000 miles away from her home. She was promptly taken to a hospital where evidence of sexual assault was documented, according to local news outlet WTAE.
Based on a criminal complaint reviewed by the publication, the girl disclosed that she connected with Crumity through Snapchat, where he allegedly offered to help her get adopted by a trustworthy adult. She narrated her journey to Pittsburgh via a Greyhound bus and recounted sleeping in a basement bed with Crumity and another individual, a woman.
The victim detailed that Crumity provided her with edibles (food containing cannabis) and subjected her to repeated sexual assaults over approximately a week. She mentioned that Crumity was aware of her status as a runaway and warned her about potential consequences. The complaint further indicated that the girl expressed feeling safest while at the hospital, and Crumity reportedly confessed to engaging in sexual activity with her, according to PEOPLE.
Local officials stated in a press release that the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Special Victims Unit received a report from United States Marshals regarding the presence of the juvenile victim from Louisiana at an address in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood.
Another individual, Ronald Smith, aged 62, was also arrested in connection with the girl’s disappearance. Smith, along with Alvin Hanson, reportedly transported her from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Georgia before arranging for her to board a northbound bus.
Smith faces charges of simple kidnapping and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, while Hanson, aged 64, was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, as stated by Brian Fair of the US marshals service.
Authorities have indicated that additional arrests are expected in the ongoing investigation. Louisiana news outlet WAFB cited officials mentioning the presence of a man and a woman from the Washington DC area in Crumity’s basement when the girl was rescued.
